Chapter Seventy-One: Diplomacy Before War

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  "Captain Laine, after scouting, there aren't many people in the camp, are there? The guards at the foot of the mountain... the guards outside the gate... and most of them are old, weak, sickly, and crippled..." Ladis panted as he came to report to Laine.

  "How strange! Is this an abandoned military camp?" Reyn said thoughtfully after listening to Rades' report.

  "Haha, since that's the case, let's start our attack then! What are we waiting for?" Ross exclaimed excitedly, holding his black giant axe and jumping up.

  "Ross, wait, this time I'll take the lead, you and Dakota provide cover from behind!" Ross said hastily, quickly drawing his long sword from his waist, calling out to his brothers as they charged wildly towards Mount Lushan.

  At this time, Los and Dakota stared at each other, then led their respective brothers to charge forward frantically.

  "Alas..." Reyn let out a long sigh, bitter smile unceasing.

  The military camp on Mount Lushan was indeed an abandoned one. When Rayne arrived at the camp, Rus and others had already taken control of the situation.

  In the vast military camp, there were only over a hundred defenders, most of whom were old or disabled. Faced with more than 3,000 troops from the Rennes army, they surrendered without a fight.

  Returning to this place, the military camp is still there, but people and things are no longer the same. The brothers who once rushed to the border to defend the city now number only a little over a hundred. Rein feels a mix of emotions.

  "Rennes, in the military camp, except for some broken weapons and armor, everything else... Alas..." After a thorough search, Rus came to Rennes with his head hung low, reporting on the inventory of supplies.

  "Oh! I see!" Laine regained his composure and said in a daze.

  "What about these soldiers, Rains?" Loss continued, pointing at the old, weak and sickly men on the drill field.

  "Alas... if they want to stay, let them stay; if they don't want to stay, give them some travel expenses." Lain sighed helplessly.

  In the military council hall, Rayn, Rus, Dakot, Los and others discussed and decided that the military camp at Ludang Mountain would be in charge of Rus, with more than 1,000 soldiers stationed there. Rayn and the others returned to Luofeng Mountain.

  On their way back, Lain was always on edge. When they returned near Luo Feng Mountain, the thing he worried about happened.

  At the foot of Mount Luo's south side, several military camps were established. After careful reconnaissance by Lades and others, it was discovered that they had more than 2,000 people, and the soldiers were well-equipped. To avoid a head-on confrontation with them, Rayn and others took a detour and returned safely to Duan Yaofeng.

  "Raise vigilance and strengthen patrols." Rayn swiftly issued the order, then urgently summoned Los, Dakot, Lades and others to discuss countermeasures in the council chamber.

  "...the Stele army is transporting supplies to the military camp, and indeed there was a trick, they just wanted to lure us over, then... The Stele army set up camp at the foot of the mountain, their next move would be to attack Luo Feng Mountain, we must..." Rayn said first.

  "Captain Renn, those soldiers all wear the emblem of House Styr on their chests, and their banner appears to be that of the Styr Empire... yes, the Fifth Legion of the Styr Empire," said Ladds.

  "Ster Empire? He***, this is too arrogant, they are just a duchy of the Kastel Empire, when did they become an empire? Lades, didn't you see it wrong?" Los glared at Lades with some indignation and said loudly.

  "Lord, it's absolutely true. I was still doubting whether our scouting was wrong when we went up the mountain earlier, but now it has been proven. The troops at the foot of the mountain are indeed soldiers of the Str Empire. They are well-equipped and there are also large numbers of garrison troops on the plain ten miles away. This time they..." Ladis said with certainty.

  "Los, Lades, you two stop arguing, whether it's the Str Empire or some other dukedom, now that the Str family has stationed troops on Luo Feng Mountain, they are our enemies. Let's discuss our next move instead." Dako said persuasively.

  "What Big Brother Dakota said is right, now the Str Family has stationed troops in the Luofeng Mountain area, which poses a threat to us. If I guess correctly, they will soon send someone to negotiate with us, and then we..." Rayn said.

  As expected, as soon as the words left Rains' mouth, a flurry of footsteps could be heard from outside, and immediately after, the soldier in charge of keeping watch came to report the situation, with an envoy sent by those below the mountain seeking an audience.

  "Bring it in!" Rayn said, thinking: Ah, come on, you're really coming quickly.

  Everyone present looked at each other in dismay, and finally their eyes all turned to Rayn, with a look of admiration on their faces.

  "Brother Rhein, your elder brother has come to see you." At this time, a familiar voice came from outside the door, and then a burly man burst in. He was wearing silver armor and a golden helmet, smiling at Rhein with his hands clasped together in greeting.

  "Captain Redmond?" Rayne exclaimed in surprise, leaping up from his seat.

  "Haha, thanks Rain brother for still remembering his old brother. First, let me apologize to you for what happened in the past, I was also following orders at that time and couldn't control my own actions... sigh..." Redmond sighed deeply, filled with remorse.

  Ran waved his hand, signaling Los and others to retreat. When the entire conference hall was left with only Ran and Redmond, Redmond burst into tears, telling about his various wrongdoings, and also...

  "Captain Redmond, don't be like that, aren't you scolding your brother? Actually, I forgave you long ago. If it weren't for you, how would I have today... if it weren't..." Rain quickly helped up Redmond who was about to kneel down.

  "Ran brothers, big brother indeed didn't misjudge you, young and promising. Your experience, big brother has some knowledge of it, the border city defense war, you made great contributions, you... Ah, never mind, never mind. Now the Kastel Empire's situation is already gone, you don't need to worry about your imperial soldier identity anymore, Ah, look at me, I said it wrong again, hehe... Now the Str Empire has..." Redmond no longer had a sorrowful and tearful appearance, now he was spirited and smiling, chatting away.

  "Haha, Captain Redmond, no, it should be Officer Redmond. What you said is something I cannot agree with. Do you know what happened to the Caine family? Now, I have an irreconcilable feud with the Str Family. Have you forgotten? In fact, many years ago, our Green Family's rebellion was also caused by the Str Family. If it wasn't for... The current Str Family is the rebel army of the Kaster Empire, they won't be proud for long, they..." Rayn refused to say, then furiously listed the various crimes of the Str Family.

  "Oh!" Redmond nodded in agreement, then gave an awkward smile.

  "Isn't there anything to discuss?" Redmond said with a gloomy face and a rude tone.

  "Hmph! Commander Redmond, are you threatening me?" Rayn sneered at him, saying disdainfully.

  "I was thinking of the brotherly love between us and really didn't want to meet you on the battlefield, alas, since your mind is made up, I have nothing more to say, so let's just wait for tomorrow's battle then!" Redmond stood up, saying with a fierce momentum.

  "Anytime!" Rain said, unwilling to back down.

  "Hmph!" Redmond glared at Rain and quickly walked towards the outer hall, but at this time, Losse, holding a giant axe, stood at the door, blocking Redmond's way.

  "Ran, is this the hospitality of your Luofeng Mountain?" Redmond turned his head back to look at Ran, sneering.

  Ran smiled but didn't answer, his disdainful eyes sizing up Redmond from head to toe before saying: "Officer Redmond, you come and go as you please, without even a courtesy call. Aren't you being a bit too presumptuous?"

  "Rhein? You?" Redmond's face was red with rage, pointing at Rhein and unable to speak.

  "Lord Redmond, Lord Rain is our commander, you're being quite rude! If you don't..." Los slammed the giant axe in his hand to the ground, saying angrily.

  "Haha, okay big bro Los, forget it!" Rein interrupted Los's words and waved his hand. Los and the others made way for a path, Redmon looked at Rein with gratitude and led several followers to hurry down the mountain. Looking at their distant backs, Rein coldly smiled.

  After Redmond left, Rain gathered Los and others to discuss tomorrow's battle.